Just a few hours back I made my first visit to 3121; haven't slept yet as I just got back into L.A.


This was roughly my 20th Prince show; give or take. But I went with my brother who never saw Prince before.

Got in about 10 and we stuck behind the glass on the second level, public area, straight down at the stage. Pretty good view.


The show didn't start until about 12:45 AM and went until about 2:45.
I, along with many others were getting antsy waiting for the show to start. He opened with "Spirituality" and then took an odd break for several minutes.

The show was filled with lots of covers; 2 Beatles song, old soul and such that I can't remember now.

Something seemed lacking; all the showboat parts were handled by members of his band. When he went to sing "Kiss" he let the audience do most of the singing.

Did several songs from 3121 and finished up with "Purple Rain" and "Let's Go Crazy." The show didn't really get frenetic for me until the lights and pizazz of "Let's Go Crazy."

Sort of disappointing. But he's entitled to do whatever he wants; that's what keeps him interesting. I feel worse for my brother who never saw a Prince show before and his first is a lot of other players and lots of covers.

Overall, it was alright. Definitely not a highlight of my Prince concerts.

Sorry to hear that!

So no after show? What did your brother have to say?

Per your review it looks like so many shows back to back are waring on him or as I stated in a different thread...the bottom is falling out.

I have to say "THANK YOU PRINCE" for not singing Purple Rain nor Let's Go Crazy at the Feb 9th show. Maybe on Purple Rain's 30th anniversary it would be cool to hear it again.

I just read that MJ was at the show? Did you see him in his lady clothes?

lizlampkin said:[quote]Sorry to hear that!

So no after show? What did your brother have to say?


If there was an aftershow he didn't say that there was. The show was L-A-T-E. We got out at 3:00 and had to stand ANOTHER 1 1/2 hours for a taxi. The All Star Game is making a real headache for commuters.

My brother was disappointed. Maybe, another time.

rozilla said:

If the one-time King of Pop was there it was a secret to EVERYONE. I heard nothing about that until this moment.

sro100 said:

It's posted at HQ that he was there.

rozilla said:

lizlampkin said:

Surely doing 2 shows a week (plus aftershows) in one venue (very close to where he resides) isn't even close to the rigours of a proper tour? Plus the shows are much shorter than we've come to expect from him.

MJ was at the Friday Feb. 16th show. This is a review of Saturday Feb. 17th.

I heard that at the Saturday (2/17) concert NONE of P's guitars worked and that the show was REALLY short as a result. Prince is on his second OR third tech just since his run in Vegas started. And the one he's got now prolly won't be around long because he keeps fucking up. He screwed up at the Friday AND Sunday shows I went too but I heard it was worse on Saturday.

lizlampkin said:

He did an aftershow. I went to that instead of the concert since I attended the Friday and Saturday shows. The aftershow was great but filled with VIPs (mostly coporate sponsors I think rather than celebs) including Dave Chapelle and Queen Latifah. Although it was great I'm thinking that Prince's frustration or disappointment with his guitar tech in the concert may have put him in not the best of moods so this aftershow was about 1.5 hours long. (Friday's was over two hours) But him and the band still got off and I TOTALLY enjoyed it.

SCNDLS said:

I wonder if this is the same guitar tech he had at the May Vegas shows.

2elijah said:

I don't know but I doubt it because Prince is on his second OR third tech just since his run in Vegas started at 3121. And I think the one he had on New Year's Eve was a French guy and the current tech I believe has only been around for a month or so.

In the show on Friday (2/16) several times he gave P his guitar and bass and they weren't working and brotha man was PISSED but kept it in check. Then I heard that at the Saturday (2/17) concert NONE of P's guitars worked and that the show was REALLY short as a result.

On the Sunday show (2/18) I was front and center in front of P's mic stand I was so close that when I rested my arms on the barrier my hands kept hitting all of his guitars. The tech screwed up a few times more but the worst was when they were doing the intro to Purple Rain and P reached for his guitar and it was dead. He handed it back real tight lipped and it took him awhile to get back the emotion that he had built up too but I think it made him put some extra stank on the guitar solo because it was a long one before he even sang the first line. It was glorious but that tech's days are numbered. As I like to say, "He'll be frying fish on Monday."
[Edited 2/20/07 11:50am]

SCNDLS said:

I actually have a video that I recorded of my phone of Prince getting mad at the guitar tech. I was at the show on Sunday myself...right in front of the stage and mic. What were you wearing?

rozilla said:

MJ was supposedly at the Friday (2/16) show. I didn't see him but that doesn't mean much since I'm always right in front of the stage and can't see who's sitting at the tables unless they come on stage. Wouldn't that have been something if MJ got on stage at a Prince show. Now I heard that Whitney Houston was at the Saturday show that is being reviewed here.

Greetings, I was in attendance that Friday. I must say it was a rather pleasant evening with the Purpleman. He did a few jams with Will I Am, Natalie Cole, And Knarls Barkley just set it off. The after show was even better next door at this small lounge. Nice crowd in attendance. Saw Stuart Scott from ESPN in the crowd. By the time it was said and done the show was over at 6 AM. I hope he has intentions of going out on the road soon. As far as MJ in the crowd Who cares. Maybe he could of gather a few pointers on showmanship, but truly I was there when the doors opened and didnt see anyone who resembled MJ. Peace and Love.

SCNDLS said:

Wow..I'd be angry too. Whoever his guitar tech was during the Tamar tour was pretty good.

One other thing that was kind-of gnawing at me is that the concert wasn't very LOUD. Some of my most pleasant memories of Prince shows is leaving with the wonderful ringing that goes on for hours and hours after the show; I can still delight in the post-concert buzz of the Musicology concert.

So, I hope either he gets much LOUDER in there (probably not a possibility since it is in the middle of a casino) or I hope that he starts a proper concert tour so I can see and hear Prince at his absolute ear-ringing LOUDEST.

sro100 said:

You do realise that the ringing in your ears is most likely permanent and cumulative damage to your hearing, don't you?

thanks for the reviews

xenophobia2002 said:

where is Takumi??

rafael said:

He's been gone for a few years now doing his own thing, whatever that means.